Wakes Colne: Station Road resident sets up new road safety campaign

Essex Police announced that an elderly woman had died on June 4 after an incident involving a car and a pedestrian.

The incident took place in Station Road, Wakes Colne, a road where many of its residents feel it is not safe.

Peter Twyford, a long-time resident of Station Road, spearheaded a campaign 22 years ago to help stop speeding drivers dangerously driving along the road.

Old - Peter and local residents campaigning against speeding vehicles in 2002 (Image: Peter Twyford)

Concerned residents - (left to right) Stella Hounslow, Alan Cochram, Denise Stocker, and Peter Twyford next to Station Road (Image: Newsquest)

Peter and numerous other households put small 30mph and “kill your speed” signs up in their gardens in 2002. 

It was covered by the Gazette when they were asked to remove the signs.

Peter has now reimplemented this campaign, having added a sign that says ‘30mph slow down’, and another one saying, ‘pedestrian area caution’, to land on his property.

Previously speaking to the Gazette, Peter said: “We started campaigning almost 25 years ago, the danger was recognised in the village then.

“Station Road is used easily 100 times more than it was 25 years ago.

“Drivers fly down this road, we’ve been telling the authority, it’s an accident waiting to happen.

News - Peter's campaign was picked up by other news outlets in 2002 (Image: Peter Twyford)

“Our cause has been going round and round in circles.”

According to residents, Station Road has many safety issues, including speeding motorists, the large volume of traffic, the narrow width of the road and its pinch points, incline, banked sides, and limited street lighting.

There is also barely any pavement for pedestrians to use, meaning they must walk in the road.

School run - youngsters walking down Station Road to get to school (Image: Peter Twyford)

Station Road resident, Francis Hounslow, believes the addition of the new signage has helped even if it's just for the short term.

She said: "Since the signs have gone up, I do feel the traffic has slowed down a bit, or seems more careful.

"There are still those speeding drivers, and one local who has been seen using his hand held mobile phone driving passed kids on the school run, but on the whole it's had a discernible positive effect.

"It gives me hope that with further support from the council, more improvement can be achieved.

"As relying on the goodwill of drivers when faced with banks of signs reminding them to slow down will probably not be a long term sustainable solution."

A spokesman for Essex Police confirmed that “enquiries are ongoing” when it comes to the force’s investigation into the road accident that occurred in June.